WHAT IS THE KTA - AND WHO ARE ISAF & IKA?

KITEBOARD TOUR ASIA

Since 2009, the Kiteboard Tour Asia (KTA) has descended on Pak Nam Pran every Spring for the annual KTA Pranburi Competition. The event is very popular with riders coming from all over the world, and is the highlight of the kiteboarding season in Pak Nam Pran. The event usually takes place in mid March. The dates for 2014 are due out in October.

The event is 5 days long, with riders competing on coarse racing (race boards and twin tip categories) and freestyle. In 2013, the event was accompanied by an acro show put on by 300 Peaks Paragliding. We also took up the film crew tandem to get some amazing shots of the races.

THE KTA PHOLOSOPHY

'The KTA was formed to give an international platform to the skills and talents of kiteboarders throughout Asia, and to bring professional level competition and training to the region. The KTA launched the first international tour of its kind in Asia in September 2009 and visits up to five countries each season as part of the Asian Kiteboard Championship Tour.

KTA’s philosophy has been to develop not only professional competition opportunities within Asia to give homegrown riders the chance to experience the fun and excitement of being part of an international competition scene, but also to underpin this with training support when possible to grow rider skills at all levels. To this end the KTA runs a number of training initiatives that include pro-rider led competition coaching, the KTA Race Centre Project, the KTA Kite Kids classes and specialist women’s kiteboard training in partnership with KB4Girls the international women’s training project with World Champion Kristin Boese.

The aim of the KTA is provide a stepping-stone for the region’s best riders and visiting international riders into the World tour scene by giving them the full experience of high level competition at a more local level, and who knows, maybe in the process discover a future world champion. But even if this is not your goal then the KTA is just plain good fun a chance to kite and compete with a lot of great people in top locations a tour we hope with difference'.

The KTA Tour includes race centres all over Asia. The tour schedule isn't set until late in the year, but keep an eye out for posts on the KTA Facebook page.